Greg Norman: The Riviera Maya's King of the Jungle

Golf legend Greg Norman shattered a myth when he carved a golf course from the deepest part of the Playa Del Carmen jungle. That is, he left no doubt that one can go green and still create a world-class golf experience.

In 2007, in its first year of existence, Golf Magazine declared El Camaleon "Best International Course." The same year, the new home of the PGA's Mayakoba Classic was honored with a rare Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary certification. That's the golf equivalent of saying El Camaleon not only "tastes great, it's less filling."

Why all the fuss? On the first hole, before having time to adjust the GPS on your state-of-the art golf cart, golfers witness their initial "only at El Camaleon" moment. On the second shot of the 532-yard, Par 5, be prepared to stare down a yawningly monstrous cenote ("see-no-tay.")

El Camaleon's second hole is home to a photogenic family of iguanas. / The 15th hole is where the paspalum fairway rises up to the Caribbean Sea. Like the reptile it's named after, El Camaleon is a course of many colors.

What is a cenote? This uniquely Yucatan gaping cavern is an underground limestone shell hovering atop a running stream. During the construction of El Camaleon, this particular cenote was discovered beneath the ground of what was to become the first hole fairway. One choice was to blanket the cenote with the most beautiful green tones of paspalum fairway grass you have ever seen. But Greg Norman's design mantra is one of least disturbance. Norman decided to preserve the cenote and make it a course feature that golfers won't find anywhere else on the planet. Score one for the Shark.

The second hole, a 142-yard, Par 3, includes a skittishly friendly family of iguanas near the second green. Directly behind the green, and near the third tee box, is another cenote. Are you getting the picture here? At El Camaleon, golfers become real-life characters in a National Geographic documentary. Your personal fact is stranger than fiction account of 18 holes will have friends back home wondering if, before the round, you sampled the tequila bar offerings at the nearby Fairmont Mayakoba Hotel.

When trying to describe the feel of El Camaleon's front nine, check your Mexican translation guide for the words "jungle" and "serenity." Beyond the abundant bird life, iguanas, and occasional meercat, what is notable is the quiet of the surroundings. Silence is golden in this mutual admiration society featuring you, the wildlife, and this awesome natural setting.

The blissful tranquility of the opening holes eventually gives way to a symphony of chirping frogs. This cheerful chorus is a golfer's first clue that he or she is entering the mangrove portion of El Camaleon.

Beginning on the eighth hole, golfers are flanked by thick clusters of mangrove trees standing shoulder to shoulder on both sides of the fairway. The commitment to the mangrove by El Camaleon and the Fairmont Mayakoba is significant. Prior to construction, environmental experts stressed that replenishment of the mangroves was non negotiable. In Playa Del Carmen, the trees are an integral link between land and sea. The mangroves not only serve as a buffer during hurricane season, but their impact on the overall eco-system is essential. This is especially true for the area's pristine coral reef, one that is the second largest in the world. Today, the benefits of the decision to preserve the mangrove are evident in a golf environment that is thriving with life.

El Camaleon and the Fairmont Mayakoba properties feature miles of meandering man-made canals. The area is heralded as the "Venice of the Mayan Riviera." / After your round, check out the view at the Fairmont Mayakoba’s Las Brisas Bar.

The course's mangrove and palm trees bow to the ocean on the show-stopping 15th hole. In shades of ultra blue, the Caribbean Sea frames the putting green on this 144-yard, Par 3. Upon completing your round, the 15th is where you'll recall the course living up to its heritage. Like the reptile it's named after, El Camaleon is a course of many colors.

Just when you thought El Camaleon had finally outdone itself, golfers encounter the 17th hole. At first glance, the 386-yard, Par 4, is rather unassuming when you consider what's led up to it. But then, to the left of the tee box, you notice a small electric boat channeling quietly along a canal. This vision of a gondolier navigating a boat with a thatched roof seems like a scene out of Humphrey Bogart's African Queen.

You will be surprised to learn that these miles of meandering canals are actually man-made. In fact, the building of the canals took six long years. The end result is that the canals of El Camaleon and the Fairmont hotel properties create an aura reminiscent of ancient Italy. The presence of the canals translates to the area now being heralded as the "Venice of the Mayan Riviera."

Perhaps the perfect capper to your round at El Camaleon is to head over to the Las Brisas Terrace bar at the neighboring Fairmont Mayakoba. Following a round of golf that left your senses on overdrive, you can't help but appreciate the gorgeous elevated view of this quaint outdoor bar.

This open-air emporium has no walls between you, the white sand beach below, and water that is bluer than blue. Have the bartender pour you a frosty cold beer with a lime. After you've savored every ounce of your cerveza, sit back and reflect on your once-in-a-lifetime round of golf. It's worth remembering that at El Camaleon, everything "tastes great and it's less filling."

Mayakoba Golf Classic: www.mayakobagolfclassic.com

Where To Stay: The Fairmont Mayakoba